Snow plow mods in June

[Handy Don 15,296]

Does it make more sense to brace against any possible impact or would hinges and springs be an alternative?

 

[ebinmaine 75,935]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

Does it make more sense to brace against any possible impact or would hinges and springs be an alternative?

 

 

TBH it could go either way. 

 

I like the idea of movability. 

 

How would we set up springs? 

They'd have to be VERY stout to hold the sides against the center while in use. 

The springs may (must?) be used as corner braces as well.  

 

 

[peter lena 9,579]

@ebinmaine  MERRY CHRISTMAS ! was thinking about your set up , commonality ?  4 wheels , just  the ideas and  possabilites , might  help you out ,  pete

 

[peter lena 9,579]

@ebinmaine  MERRY CHRISTMAS ! was thinking about your set up , commonality ?  4 wheels , just  the ideas and  possabilites , might  help you out ,  pete

 

[peter lena 9,579]

@Handy Don  , MERRY CHRISTMAS  !  rarely if ever look at a  repetitive problem  , with  a single view , basically  giving the failure point / area  a  chance to show it self , thats what I want in any  failure point , what's amazing to me  and a commonality  in wheel horse , is that  the original intent  was only partially  finished , experiment with every stage , it will show itself , then enhance that function . if you paint it red / black , it disappears , regularly  respond to  what I did , and have been using for years without issue , isn't  that what you want ?  that  fuel issue , consistent  debris , for me is years gone , as is related  choke / throttle  function , just a couple of  regulars  that show up . have a good day / family  , pete 

[Handy Don 15,296]

17 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

How would we set up springs? 

They'd have to be VERY stout to hold the sides against the center while in use. 

The springs may (must?) be used as corner braces as well.

Half-baked thoughts (with a nod to our spit-ball friend @wallfish)

 

To wit (and you can tell that my career involved setting the requirements for system designs that others had to build )

- Ultimately, for use on uneven terrain, either:

* the plow with sides must be free to pitch forward or back (with a mechanism to prevent “droop” when the plow is lifted) and strong enough to withstand such movement, or

* each side must be strong enough to lift the plow vertically over a impediment without damage

* each side must be strong enough to withstand significant lateral force without damage or have some sort of hinged “release"

 

If sides are sprung:

- Sprung sides’ action must be stiff enough to prevent normal snow load from causing movement (adjustable tension?)

- Spring action must work for inward movement (is outward movement optional or necessary?)

- Should there be hard limits to motion in either direction and/or a “fail safe” break away mode?

- The mechanism mustn’t accumulate snow easily that would impede its operation or affect plowing

- The mechanism should not extend beyond the ends of the plow by more than a couple of inches

- The mechanism, once tripped, should return to its normal operating configuration without manual intervention

 

Sprung would be pretty complicated!

 

[SylvanLakeWH 29,938]

Maybe use an old plow blade cut to desired wing size and welded to main blade... put a ski style skid on the bottom and let it float... no durability worries with an old WH blade... 

[ebinmaine 75,935]

2 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Maybe use an old plow blade cut to desired wing size and welded to main blade... put a ski style skid on the bottom and let it float... no durability worries with an old WH blade... 

 

Can you please elaborate on that ?

[ebinmaine 75,935]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Half-baked thoughts (with a nod to our spit-ball friend @wallfish)

 

To wit (and you can tell that my career involved setting the requirements for system designs that others had to build )

- Ultimately, for use on uneven terrain, either:

* the plow with sides must be free to pitch forward or back (with a mechanism to prevent “droop” when the plow is lifted) and strong enough to withstand such movement, or

* each side must be strong enough to lift the plow vertically over a impediment without damage

* each side must be strong enough to withstand significant lateral force without damage or have some sort of hinged “release"

 

If sides are sprung:

- Sprung sides’ action must be stiff enough to prevent normal snow load from causing movement (adjustable tension?)

- Spring action must work for inward movement (is outward movement optional or necessary?)

- Should there be hard limits to motion in either direction and/or a “fail safe” break away mode?

- The mechanism mustn’t accumulate snow easily that would impede its operation or affect plowing

- The mechanism should not extend beyond the ends of the plow by more than a couple of inches

- The mechanism, once tripped, should return to its normal operating configuration without manual intervention

 

Sprung would be pretty complicated!

 

 

 

A lot of good points there. 

 

I think the spring(s) would create too much complication. 

 

To the points...

 

* the plow with sides must be free to pitch forward or back (with a mechanism to prevent “droop” when the plow is lifted) and strong enough to withstand such movement

     Agreed. I believe the stock Wheelhorse trip springs should be removed. 

 

* each side must be strong enough to lift the plow vertically over a impediment without damage

      I believe it will be once reinforced 

 

* each side must be strong enough to withstand significant lateral force without damage

     This is the most needed change. Overall twisting stability and angular side wing to plow blade anchoring is - at best - weak.